Biomonitoring of atmospheric pollution with heavy metals in the copper mine vicinity located near Radoviš, Republic of Macedonia

Abstract

This investigation was undertaken to determine the atmospheric pollution with heavy metals due to copper mining Bučim near Radoviš, the Republic of Macedonia. Moss samples (Hyloconium splendens and Pleurozium schrebery) were used for biomonitoring the possible atmospheric pollution with heavy metals in mine vicinity. Sixteen elements (Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Sr, and Zn) were analysed by application of flame and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS and ETAAS) and atomic emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-AES). The obtained values were statistically processed using nonparametric and parametric analysis. The median value for copper obtained from moss samples (10 mg kg⁻¹) was much lower compared with the same values for the whole territory of the Republic of Macedonia (22 mg kg⁻¹). The range of values (2.1–198 mg kg⁻¹) shows much higher content of this element in the samples taken from the study area compared to the appropriate values for the whole territory of Macedonia. The association of elements As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, and Zn was singled out by factor analysis as a characteristic anthropogenic group of elements. Maps of area deposition were made for this group of elements, wherefrom correlation of these anthropogenic born elements was confirmed.

Keywords:

• Air pollution
• heavy metals
• copper mine
• biomonitoring
• Bučim
• Macedonia